India-US Partnership: US Deputy Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg has said that the US is very eager to welcome India to its technology initiative Pax Silica next month in February 2025. Pax Silica works to strengthen the semiconductor and AI supply chain by reducing dependence on China.
According to Jacob Helberg, this step will promote technical cooperation between the two countries. Pax Silica is an international coalition, which includes countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Netherlands, UK, Israel, UAE, Australia and Qatar. All these member countries will work together on chip design, manufacturing and AI infrastructure. It also aims to ensure global technological security.
India remained out of the first round of Pax Silica
India also has to see that it cannot suddenly ignore China completely in this matter. Formal talks regarding Pax Silica are yet to take place with America. Before that, there are many things which are very important to study beforehand. Some officials are also pointing out that India has been invited to join it late. Whereas, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, UK, Australia, Israel and Greece had signed the declaration during the summit on Pax Silica on 12 December itself. Later Netherlands, United Nations Emirates and Qatar also became part of it.
Meanwhile, the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) has announced that it will hold an important hearing next month on India’s strategic relations with the US and China. The hearing will be held on February 17 and will be the first public hearing of the 2026 reporting cycle. The commission aims to assess India’s position in the context of the US-China rivalry, where Washington sees India as an important partner to counter China’s growing influence. This development is happening at a time when a slight improvement is being seen in the relations between India and China.
American policy makers are keeping an eye on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Beijing after seven years, resumption of air services after five years and relaxation in restrictions on Chinese investment after the Galwan conflict.
Importance of this hearing for America
Over the past decade, Washington has viewed India as a ‘strategic counterweight’ against China. However, some tensions have also been seen between India and America during the last one year. The question being raised in American policy circles is to what extent India will be able to adjust to the American security architecture while maintaining its ‘strategic autonomy’. This hearing is also important because just six weeks later, in April 2026, President Donald Trump is scheduled to pay an official visit to China.